The DIS-Functional WonderPeeps are Triple-Dippin' Castaway Cay! 7/20 & 7/24, 2008

[tinkryansmom]

GO COWBOYS!!

RJ!! you only gave my boys a 2!? Why you gotta be a hater?



Where are TZM and Ophie? They have jetlag or something? Or maybe they did win the CA lottery and are at home in FL right now packing!

 

[RonnieJo66]

GO COWBOYS!!

RJ!! you only gave my boys a 2!? Why you gotta be a hater?



Where are TZM and Ophie? They have jetlag or something? Or maybe they did win the CA lottery and are at home in FL right now packing!

No, not a hater.....would have been VERY beneficial for me if'n GB woulda won last night. I'm trying to win a week and for that you kinda have to make some weird picks.

...and if Ophie and Tzm woulda won the lottery, you can bet they would have hired someone to do the packing!

and btw Johnna... if you can tell the future, may I please have the next set of Mega Millions winning numbers?

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

oooh, pretty lights RJ! I've putting some "good" ones up on the site. Hopefully it will be up this weekend. The "star's" pictures aren't cooperating. They keep coming up all kanoobly - that's fancy webmaster talk

and Johnna, since you're tellin' the future and all, please to be telling me what Timmy's graduating GPA will be?

 

[Anal Annie]

sshhh...don't scare her! Just kidding! I see a DIS meet in your future! Didja all know I can predict the future....

Gty 8 gets you a cat 6!? I could go for that!

I like that idea of predicting the lottery numbers! That would be a handy talent!

GTY gets u a room guaranteed to be AT LEAST what u paid for and POSSIBLY a free upgrade! I would book a GTY again if I ran across one!

Went to 5 Guys for lunch & had a LOADED burger...now I'm sitting on the switchboard while the receptionist is at lunch & I'm sleeeeeeppy! But I love places that offer lots of toppings and / or condiments! It was oozing out the back it was so loaded up!

OK, so what should we do about getting our Xmas tree? It's a little early yet to be getting a real one but we like 9-10' ones and they're harder to find....they are cheapest at Home Depot - but they said they run out of the really big ones around the first week of Dec. - but the 9' ones were only $54! (Bargain!) I called the orchard place where we went for our hayride at Halloween (where we usually get our trees too). $50 to cut your own (they only have white pines in that size tho & a limited number of them - so going early is sorta the best move - BUT that's not our "usual flavor" of tree). Pre-cut (last Tues) 9-12' Frasirs are $125-250 & Precut Douglas Firs are around $110 + OR....go to Home Depot & get one early (tomorrow) for $54 but who knows when it was cut blah, blah, blah.... DH has a home Redskins game on Sun. so it's either go tomorrow or we wait for next weekend (we don't go in the dark as I have to scrutinize how straight the trunk is & check out every branch first & I need daylight)..... There are a couple of other nurseries I can call too.....hummmmmmm

OH! We got our "Mickey & Friends sled" yesterday! That was QUICK wasn't it (just ordered it on Sun.)!? Not so happy with the quality of the product tho...of course DS wants to keep it - but it's very, very flimsy....it's really weird how it was made....lots of little pieces of plastic stuff....NOT worth the orig. price for sure! Glad we found it 30% off the other day.... So we will finish the outside decorating tomorrow too....gotta put those wreaths on the windows....

And yes, where are Ophie & TZM?! They've been missing in action for a long, long time! And Sean....he's not been around much either

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

Annie - do your tree places get continuous deliveries of trees? Seems like out "live" tree lot's were always getting trees (beeg trucks backing up the two way road).... That dilemma is the reason we went with an artificial tree many years ago. It doesn't have the pine smell but it looks real (mostly), the lights are already on and I don't have to remember to water it (a HUGE thing for me). I think I paid $500 for it and we've used it at least five years - and 6-8 foot trees cost $150 here.


Um... it's raining.

 

[Anal Annie]

Annie - do your tree places get continuous deliveries of trees? Seems like out "live" tree lot's were always getting trees (beeg trucks backing up the two way road).... That dilemma is the reason we went with an artificial tree many years ago. It doesn't have the pine smell but it looks real (mostly), the lights are already on and I don't have to remember to water it (a HUGE thing for me). I think I paid $500 for it and we've used it at least five years - and 6-8 foot trees cost $150 here.


Um... it's raining.

Yes, they do get shipments every few days...problem is finding the tall ones at the cheaper prices. Our Home Depot told me they have some this week but aren't necessarily expecting any more of the 9 footers - once this shipment is gone they only expect 7-8' ones. I called some other places this afternoon - some have plenty of the big ones & some said they only had about 10 of them...I could reject 10 in a heartbeat! I think unless we go to Home Depot or do the cut your own white pine thing we can expect to have to pay around $125-150. We were OK paying up to $75 for a live tree but once they went over $100 for the size we really wanted we did start tossing around the idea of getting an artificial one - but we would have to go to like some outlets or something to find one at a Xmas specialty store or something that would be big enough. Most of the artificial ones are so skinny too - I would like one about 4 1/2' across at the bottom! (Yep - I'm picky!) I have looked at them at several stores & have not found one that suits me. Target has one that I liked the looks of but it's only 7 1/2'. I could not order one online - I would have to SEE it. The ceiling over where we put it is 2 stories high - so it just doesn't look right somehow to not be really tall. The one we ended up buying last yr. was short (like 8') and it looked funny or something. I suppose we'd get used to it - but I really hate to give up. REMEMBER - my name is Anal Annie!

 

[tinkryansmom]

REMEMBER - my name is Anal Annie!

Trees...huh. Not there yet. We are lucky enough to get a tree from MIL's property up in the forest! It just shows up! I know Annie, this would bother you since I don't get to choose my own but it's free and the in-laws like the tradition. Neil puts it in the house, puts the lights on and I hand ornaments to Ryan and Neil to decorate it. Of course I do have to remember to water it. SIL won't let anyone touch her tree. She hand picks it and puts the lights on and decorates it by herself. That way its perfect and stays that way. Don't touch her tree! That is just one control issue I don't seem to have. Course we aren't home over the holidays so I sometimes wonder why we bother but kids dig those christmas trees!

Going to try to get the girls christmas picture taken today. Wish me luck. Linden is in her room screaming right now. So much for taking a nap before we head over there at 5pm.

 

[Anal Annie]

TRM - I would LOVE a tree from your MIL's forest! I used to insist on doing the lights too - but I finally gave in to DH a few years ago 'cuz I am just too darn s-l-o-o-w at getting them JUST RIGHT! Hours I used to spend. The tree day was exactly that - a TREE DAY!! I just looked at artificial trees online (just so I could say that I had looked). Cheap side was $500ish and avg. was $700-800ish and high end was around $1,400 for a 9' one....prelit tho....but I just can't trust those pics online....have to see it & touch it! Yes, I guess I'm the touchy feely type!! (but not really - not people touchy feely - just with STUFF...)

THEN I googled cut your own trees in Maryland...found a site for marylandchristmastrees.org! Besides the place I'd already called where we usually go, I found 3 other tree farms in our county where you can cut your own for about $50! So I am calling them all tomorrow morning to check out their supply - if they have a lot then we can wait until next weekend....one place only takes cash or local checks....but they have Scotch Pine - I haven't had one of those in a long time....another place has Douglas Fir....and the other place (the closest) didn't say what they have....only that you can cut them.....

 

[CamColt]

We just got back from getting our tree. Funny thing is I love the real ones. We always had real growing up then somewhere in my teen years my parents gave up and got a fake one. I always swore I get real ones when I had my own house. So for the past 12 years its been real....and makes a mess, falls over, its a pain getting it home, etc... I was ready. I asked the men if they thought a fake tree was the way to go and of course I got..."NOOOOOO!". So, we went out tonight looking. Surprisingly the tree we got was easy to find, cheap...only 45.00, and its one of the better standing ones we have had. Its pretty sturdy. But it will wait to fall over until I get all the ornaments on.

 

[BeanoC]

Hi all...

I wanted to say (a belated) thank you for all the birthday wishes

I've just been too busy... but the week from h*ll is finally over!!

Now let's hope it's not the weekend from h*ll too!

I have a stress/echo exam tomorrow morning, and a root canal on tuesday.


"Honey, where do we keep the vicodin?"

 

[Anal Annie]

Good luck with those tests Beano! I've never had a root canal but I did have a stress test last year...I'm so out of shape it 'bout killed me! Keep us posted!

CamColt - I'm with ya on the real tree thing...I got a small (4 1/2') artificial one for the basement and DS was all worried "that was it". "But we ARE getting a REAL tree too aren't we?" I called the other tree farms...I think at least one is a good shot for next weekend...

 

[tinkryansmom]

Beano!!

No more weeks from H*ll that is my wish for you.

A root canal scheduled the day after an echo exam? Why you gotta do that to yourself?

I say put those tootsies up this weekend. Watch football. Stay warm. And snuggle with RJ!

I will be thinking of you next week.

 

[tinkryansmom]

It's official!!

The McDougalds are Cruising!!!

Ok so we can only go for the 4 day portion - But Neil says we can go!!

SueEllen is a goddess and is so patient when people like us cannot make up our minds. (luv you SE)

We are going for a Cat 8 - so I don't have to worry about Linden climbing the balcony rails. I am secretly hoping for an upgrade.

OK - so planning questions: is everyone going to WDW before the cruise? If not, where are you staying pre-cruise. Also just read a thread where someone was discussing strollers and she said she borrowed the DCL strollers.?? Anybody know about this?

 

[RonnieJo66]

It's official!!

The McDougalds are Cruising!!!

Yeah!!!!!



thank you Neil!

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

TRM: we never used DCL strollers (kinda wanted stretchers after dinner tho) but my first thought was EEW Linden will be old enough to use an umbrella stroller, yes? I don't know, I just hate the idea of using a stroller that who-knows-how-many kids have done "kid" things in. But ....

JOHNNA'S CRUISIN'!!!!
now how hard will we have to work to get Neil to agree to the 3 day?

 

[Anal Annie]

It's official!!

The McDougalds are Cruising!!!

Ok so we can only go for the 4 day portion - But Neil says we can go!!

SueEllen is a goddess and is so patient when people like us cannot make up our minds. (luv you SE)

We are going for a Cat 8 - so I don't have to worry about Linden climbing the balcony rails. I am secretly hoping for an upgrade.

OK - so planning questions: is everyone going to WDW before the cruise? If not, where are you staying pre-cruise. Also just read a thread where someone was discussing strollers and she said she borrowed the DCL strollers.?? Anybody know about this?

YAY!
I get to meet The McDougald's too! And PLANNING! Wheee! LOVE THAT!
We started out that we were going to go to WDW for a few nites and then we were doing the 4 n. cruise...then Cheri found me somewhere on another thread & got me over here & once you all revealed the idea of the 3 n. B2B we decided OK, that sounds cool - we'll drop the nites at WDW and do the B2B instead. But then, you know not too long after that we decided we just couldn't go to FL and NOT go to the world too so we decided to buy AP's last summer so we could go to WDW THIS summer too (since our park tickets are already paid for)! So, yes, we're going to WDW for 3 n. now pre-cruise. We are booked in a "Value Studio" at the Animal Kingdom Villas ('cuz that's our fav. place)! CamColt was also talking about going there for a few nites but I don't know if she ever booked it or not...CamColt?! Ya coming?! Are we having one of those can't pronounce the name of it cocktails that you mentioned by the pool?! I don't think anybody else has revealed their plans yet for pre-cruise. It's a secret!

Hummm. Public strollers. We never put DS in one when he was that little...we DID rent them at WDW when he was older tho...but he wasn't sleeping in them etc. 'cuz he was older - we really just rented them to carry our stuff and so we could get around quicker 'cuz he's such a dawdler. But my most fav. stroller that we ever had for him was smaller than a regular stroller but it was bigger than a "real" umbrella stroller. It had a little basket underneath & a roof/lid thingy but it wasn't cumbersome. It didn't lay down tho - so I don't know what classification it fell into (regular or umbrella) but I might bring something like that one. Linden will just be hitting a year old then - I forget now what DS was like. I guess still napping a lot huh? Are we going to have a 1 year old birthday party too?!

 

[tinkryansmom]

Check. Bringing own stroller. Friend Cheri makes a valid point.

And yes Annie I think we must have a 1st birthday party onboard! And it will be DH 40th also!

And I think there is someone else with a July birthday? Um..maybe SueEllens DH Steve?

Oh keeper of the list...how many birthday will be be celebrating in July?

 

[CamColt]

YAY MC DOUGALD FAMILY!!!!

You must be so excited! And yes, bring your own stroller. We sailed when Colt was 8 months old and had our own (went to WDW before) and it worked well.

When is Neil's 40th? Peter turns 40 on 7/24 (the last and first days of the cruises). Sue Ellen had said Steve's 40th is around that time too. Plus our anniversary is 7/22. What a lot of celebrating we will be doing!

We plan to go to WDW for 3 nights before the cruise. Not sure where yet. I blew it waiting too long on a great rate at AKL savannah view. I have a good rate now on standard view, but I'm not sure if I want that. I'm holding out a bit hoping savannah will open up again. If not, also considering Yacht or Beach Club so the kids can use the pool. We are only planning on 1 park day, probably Friday, not sure though. I have 2 trips to get through before this one, so its been on the back burner a bit.

 

[Anal Annie]

CamColt - I'm tellin' ya, those savanna view rooms are a crap shoot! Who knows what we'll end up with in our "value" studio. They can look at the parking lot, the pool OR the "sunset savanna". But with our DVC discount it was less than a "pool view" in the lodge rooms...With only 3 days we will be at the parks a lot tho so it's not a huge deal.

DH is at the Redskins game (and it's a cold one)! I'm sure it will be emotional with the whole Sean Taylor thing...

DS & I are going out to run errands. My Mom said she wanted like a jogging / warm up suit for Xmas & JCP has some advertised - buy 1 piece / get the other for $1!! Plus I need to shop at a store that they have too so she can exchange it if she needs to...so that works. Then we'll get gas, go to Target for a short list (the small post-it size - so we'll see if we can contain it to under $200!) and then we'll hit the grocery store. It's gonna be a cold & busy week so I'm thinkin' sloppy joes & chilli...

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

Annie - that's funny! Target for less than $200 at Christmas That's like Costco for under $400 at Christmas (or is it $600? ) If you're like me, you can write a whole lotta stuff stuff on a post-it note. Just write really small.

I think I might just wrap a present today.





Just kidding. I'm just trying to do something "Christmasy" other than addressing the cards. No likey to do that.

Cassie is outside with the gardener reattaching the snake fence. With the good rain, it's a perfect time to do it. Ground is nice and soft (read: MUDDY) so it's easier to dig fencing down - and MUCH easier for leelte girlie to get DIRTY. Can't wait to see how this is going to turn out. It's really a hoot to see her having so much fun.


One more thing: STOOPID STOOPID STOOPID STOOPID COLLEGE FEETBALL!!! STOOPID TOEJAMS! But I'm not bitter. Did I mention I don't like USC? OK ok, my alma mater didn't exactly play good football but that's besides the point!